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General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 970
January Session, 2025
AN ACT CONCERNING CANNABINOIDS, HEMP AND HEMP
PRODUCTS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Subdivisions (29) to (62), inclusive, of section 21a-240 of the 1
general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 2
thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 3
(29) "Marijuana" means all parts of any plant, or species of the genus 4
cannabis or any infra specific taxon thereof, whether growing or not; the 5
resin extracted from any part of the plant; every compound, 6
manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture or preparation of such plant, or 7
its resin. [; any high-THC hemp product; manufactured cannabinoids; 8
or cannabinon, cannabinol or cannabidiol and chemical compounds 9
which are similar to cannabinon, cannabinol or cannabidiol in chemical 10
structure or which are similar thereto in physiological effect, which are 11
controlled substances under this chapter, except cannabidiol derived 12
from hemp, as defined in section 22-61l, that is not a high-THC hemp 13
product.] "Marijuana" does not include: (A) The mature stalks of such 14
plant, fiber produced from such stalks, oil or cake made from the seeds 15
of such plant, any other compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, 16
mixture or preparation of such mature stalks, except the resin extracted 17
from such mature stalks or fiber, oil or cake; (B) the seed of such plant; 18
(C) hemp [, as] and manufacturer hemp products, as such terms are 19
defined in section 22-61l, as amended by this act, [(i)with a total THC 20 Substitute Bill No. 970
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concentration of not more than three-tenths per cent on a dry-weight 21
basis] and naturally manufactured hemp cannabinoids, including (i) 22
moderate-THC hemp products, as defined in section 21a-426, and (ii) 23
[that is not a] high-THC hemp [product] products grown or 24
manufactured by a licensee, as defined in section 22-61l, as amended by 25
this act; (D) any substance approved by the federal Food and Drug 26
Administration or successor agency as a drug and reclassified in any 27
schedule of controlled substances or unscheduled by the federal Drug 28
Enforcement Administration or successor agency which is included in 29
the same schedule designated by the federal Drug Enforcement 30
Administration or successor agency; or (E) infused beverages, as 31
defined in section 21a-425. 32
(30) "Narcotic substance" means any of the following, whether 33
produced directly or indirectly by extraction from a substance of 34
vegetable origin, or independently by means of chemical synthesis, or 35
by a combination of extraction and chemical synthesis: (A) Morphine-36
type: (i) Opium or opiate, or any salt, compound, derivative, or 37
preparation of opium or opiate which is similar to any such substance 38
in chemical structure or which is similar to any such substance in 39
physiological effect and which shows a like potential for abuse, which 40
is a controlled substance under this chapter unless modified; (ii) any 41
salt, compound, isomer, derivative, or preparation of any such 42
substance which is chemically equivalent or identical to any substance 43
referred to in clause (i) of this subparagraph, but not including the 44
isoquinoline alkaloids of opium; (iii) opium poppy or poppy straw; or 45
(iv) (I) fentanyl or any salt, compound, derivative or preparation of 46
fentanyl which is similar to any such substance in chemical structure or 47
which is similar to any such substance in physiological effect and which 48
shows a like potential for abuse, which is a controlled substance under 49
this chapter unless modified, or (II) any salt, compound, isomer, 50
derivative or preparation of any such substance which is chemically 51
equivalent or identical to any substance referred to in subclause (I) of 52
this clause; or (B) cocaine-type; coca leaves or any salt, compound, 53
derivative or preparation of coca leaves, or any salt, compound, isomer, 54 Substitute Bill No. 970
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derivatives or preparation of any such substance which is chemically 55
equivalent or identical to any such substance or which is similar to any 56
such substance in physiological effect and which shows a like potential 57
for abuse, but not including decocainized coca leaves or extractions of 58
coca leaves which do not contain cocaine or ecgonine. 59
(31) "Nurse" means a person performing nursing as defined in section 60
20-87a. 61
(32) "Official written order" means an order for controlled substances 62
written on a form provided by the bureau for that purpose under the 63
federal Controlled Substances Act. 64
(33) "Opiate" means any substance having an addiction-forming or 65
addiction-sustaining liability similar to morphine or being capable of 66
conversion into a drug having addiction-forming or addiction-67
sustaining liability; it does not include, unless specifically designated as 68
controlled under this chapter, the dextrorotatory isomer of 3-methoxy-69
n-methylmorthinan and its salts (dextro-methorphan) but shall include 70
its racemic and levorotatory forms. 71
(34) "Opium poppy" means the plant of the species papaver 72
somniferum l., except its seed. 73
(35) Repealed by P.A. 99-102, S. 51. 74
(36) "Other stimulant and depressant drugs" means controlled 75
substances other than amphetamine-type, barbiturate-type, cannabis-76
type, cocaine-type, hallucinogenics and morphine-type which are found 77
to exert a stimulant and depressant effect upon the higher functions of 78
the central nervous system and which are found to have a potential for 79
abuse and are controlled substances under this chapter. 80
(37) "Person" includes any corporation, limited liability company, 81
association or partnership, or one or more individuals, government or 82
governmental subdivisions or agency, business trust, estate, trust, or 83
any other legal entity. Words importing the plural number may include 84 Substitute Bill No. 970
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the singular; words importing the masculine gender may be applied to 85
females. 86
(38) "Pharmacist" means a person authorized by law to practice 87
pharmacy pursuant to section 20-590, 20-591, 20-592 or 20-593. 88
(39) "Pharmacy" means an establishment licensed pursuant to section 89
20-594. 90
(40) "Physician" means a person authorized by law to practice 91
medicine in this state pursuant to section 20-9. 92
(41) "Podiatrist" means a person authorized by law to practice 93
podiatry in this state. 94
(42) "Poppy straw" means all parts, except the seeds, of the opium 95
poppy, after mowing. 96
(43) "Practitioner" means: (A) A physician, dentist, veterinarian, 97
podiatrist, scientific investigator or other person licensed, registered or 98
otherwise permitted to distribute, dispense, conduct research with 99
respect to or to administer a controlled substance in the course of 100
professional practice or research in this state; and (B) a pharmacy, 101
hospital or other institution licensed, registered or otherwise permitted 102
to distribute, dispense, conduct research with respect to or to administer 103
a controlled substance in the course of professional practice or research 104
in this state. 105
(44) "Prescribe" means order or designate a remedy or any 106
preparation containing controlled substances. 107
(45) "Prescription" means a written, oral or electronic order for any 108
controlled substance or preparation from a licensed practitioner to a 109
pharmacist for a patient. 110
(46) "Production" includes the manufacture, planting, cultivation, 111
growing or harvesting of a controlled substance. 112 Substitute Bill No. 970
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(47) "Registrant" means any person licensed by this state and 113
assigned a current federal Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drug 114
Registry Number as provided under the federal Controlled Substances 115
Act. 116
(48) "Registry number" means the alphabetical or numerical 117
designation of identification assigned to a person by the federal Drug 118
Enforcement Administration, or other federal agency, which is 119
commonly known as the federal registry number. 120
(49) "Restricted drugs or substances" are the following substances 121
without limitation and for all purposes: Datura stramonium; 122
hyoscyamus niger; atropa belladonna, or the alkaloids atropine; 123
hyoscyamine; belladonnine; apatropine; or any mixture of these 124
alkaloids such as daturine, or the synthetic homatropine or any salts of 125
these alkaloids, except that any drug or preparation containing any of 126
the above-mentioned substances which is permitted by federal food and 127
drug laws to be sold or dispensed without a prescription or written 128
order shall not be a controlled substance; amyl nitrite; the following 129
volatile substances to the extent that said chemical substances or 130
compounds containing said chemical substances are sold, prescribed, 131
dispensed, compounded, possessed or controlled or delivered or 132
administered to another person with the purpose that said chemical 133
substances shall be breathed, inhaled, sniffed or drunk to induce a 134
stimulant, depressant or hallucinogenic effect upon the higher functions 135
of the central nervous system: Acetone; benzene; butyl alcohol; butyl 136
nitrate and its salts, isomers, esters, ethers or their salts; cyclohexanone; 137
dichlorodifluoromethane; ether; ethyl acetate; formaldehyde; hexane; 138
isopropanol; methanol; methyl cellosolve acetate; methyl ethyl ketone; 139
methyl isobutyl ketone; nitrous oxide; pentochlorophenol; toluene; 140
toluol; trichloroethane; trichloroethylene; 1,4 butanediol. 141
(50) "Sale" is any form of delivery which includes barter, exchange or 142
gift, or offer therefor, and each such transaction made by any person 143
whether as principal, proprietor, agent, servant or employee. 144 Substitute Bill No. 970
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(51) "State", when applied to a part of the United States, includes any 145
state, district, commonwealth, territory or insular possession thereof, 146
and any area subject to the legal authority of the United States of 147
America. 148
(52) "State food, drug and cosmetic laws" means the Uniform Food, 149
Drug and Cosmetic Act, section 21a-91 et seq. 150
(53) "Ultimate user" means a person who lawfully possesses a 151
controlled substance for the person's own use or for the use of a member 152
of such person's household or for administering to an animal owned by 153
such person or by a member of such person's household. 154
(54) "Veterinarian" means a person authorized by law to practice 155
veterinary medicine in this state. 156
(55) "Wholesaler" means a distributor or a person who supplies 157
controlled substances that the person personally has not produced or 158
prepared to registrants. 159
(56) "Reasonable times" means the time or times any office, care-160
giving institution, pharmacy, clinic, wholesaler, manufacturer, 161
laboratory, warehouse, establishment, store or place of business, vehicle 162
or other place is open for the normal affairs or business or the practice 163
activities usually conducted by the registrant. 164
(57) "Unit dose drug distribution system" means a drug distribution 165
system used in a hospital or chronic and convalescent nursing home in 166
which drugs are supplied in individually labeled unit of use packages, 167
each patient's supply of drugs is exchanged between the hospital 168
pharmacy and the drug administration area or, in the case of a chronic 169
and convalescent nursing home between a pharmacy and the drug 170
administration area, at least once each twenty-four hours and each 171
patient's medication supply for this period is stored within a patient-172
specific container, all of which is conducted under the direction of a 173
pharmacist licensed in Connecticut and, in the case of a hospital, directly 174
involved in the provision and supervision of pharmaceutical services at 175 Substitute Bill No. 970
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such hospital at least thirty-five hours each week. 176
(58) "Cocaine in a free-base form" means any substance which 177
contains cocaine, or any compound, isomer, derivative or preparation 178
thereof, in a nonsalt form. 179
(59) "THC" means tetrahydrocannabinol, including, but not limited 180
to, delta-7, delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol 181
and delta-10-tetrahydrocannabinol, and any material, compound, 182
mixture or preparation which contain their salts, isomers and salts of 183
isomers, whenever the existence of such salts, isomers and salts of 184
isomers is possible within the specific chemical designation, regardless 185
of the source, except: (A) Dronabinol substituted in sesame oil and 186
encapsulated in a soft gelatin capsule in a federal Food and Drug 187
Administration or successor agency approved product; or (B) any 188
tetrahydrocannabinol product that has been approved by the federal 189
Food and Drug Administration or successor agency to have a medical 190
use and reclassified in any schedule of controlled substances or 191
unscheduled by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration or 192
successor agency. 193
(60) "Total THC" means the sum of the percentage by weight of 194
tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, multiplied by eight hundred seventy-195
seven-thousandths, plus the percentage of weight of THC. 196
(61) ["Manufactured cannabinoid" means cannabinoids created by 197
directly converting one cannabinoid to a different cannabinoid through: 198
(A) Application of light or heat; (B) decarboxylation of naturally 199
occurring acidic forms of cannabinoids; or (C) an alternate extraction or 200
conversion process approved by the Department of Consumer 201
Protection and published on the department's Internet web site] 202
"Naturally manufactured hemp cannabinoid" means naturally 203
occurring cannabinoids derived from hemp, including, but not limited 204
to, cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerol (CBG), cannabigerovarin (CBGV), 205
cannabinol (CBN), cannabichromene (CBC), cannabimovone (CBM), 206
cannabicyclol (CBL), cannabidivarin (CBDV), THC, 207 Substitute Bill No. 970
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tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) and such cannabinoids' acidic forms, 208
manufactured by (A) decarboxylation of naturally occurring acidic 209
forms of cannabinoids using heat, (B) solvent-based extraction methods, 210
including ethanol and carbon dioxide supercritical extraction, (C) 211
solventless extraction methods, including use of ice water, rosin 212
pressing, dry sifting and steam distillation, or (D) lipid infusion 213
extraction using carrier oils to extract cannabinoids through heat and 214
infusion, whether in the form of an extract or a manufacturer hemp 215
product manufactured by an individual or entity that has a license to 216
manufacture hemp in this state under chapter 424. 217
(62) "Synthetic cannabinoid" (A) means [any substance converted, by 218
a chemical process, to create a cannabinoid or cannabinoid-like 219
substance that (i) has structural features which allow interaction with at 220
least one of the known cannabinoid-specific receptors, or (ii) has any 221
physiological or psychotropic response on at least one cannabinoid-222
specific receptor, (B) includes, but is not limited to, 223
hexahydrocannabinol (HHC and HXC) and hydrox4phc (PHC), and (C) 224
does not include any manufactured cannabinoid] any cannabinoid 225
produced through chemical synthesis, conversion or isomerization of 226
another cannabinoid or created without direct extraction, including, but 227
not limited to, delta-8-THC, THC-O-acetate and hexahydrocannabinol 228
(HHC) when produced by chemical conversion of cannabidiol (CBD) or 229
other cannabinoid and fully synthetic compounds that do not exist 230
naturally in the hemp plant, and (B) does not include any naturally 231
manufactured hemp cannabinoid, any producer hemp product, as 232
defined in section 22-61l, as amended by this act, or any manufacturer 233
hemp product manufactured by an individual or entity that has a license 234
to manufacture hemp in this state under chapter 424. 235
Sec. 2. Subsection (a) of section 22-61l of the general statutes is 236
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 237
2025): 238
(a) For the purpose of this section and section 22-61m, as amended by 239
this act, the following terms have the same meaning as provided in 7 240 Substitute Bill No. 970
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CFR 990.1, as amended from time to time: "Acceptable hemp THC level", 241
"Agricultural marketing service", "Audit", "Cannabis", "Conviction", 242
"Corrective action plan", "Culpable mental state greater than 243
negligence", "Decarboxylated", "Decarboxylation", "Disposal", "Dry 244
weight basis", "Gas chromatography", "Geospatial location", "Handle", 245
"Liquid chromatography", "Immature plants", "Information sharing 246
system", "Measurement of uncertainty", "Negligence", 247
"Phytocannabinoid", "Postdecarboxylation", "Remediation", "Reverse 248
distributor" and "Total THC". In addition, for the purpose of this section 249
and section 22-61m, as amended by this act: 250
(1) "Cannabidiol" or "CBD" means the nonpsychotropic compound by 251
the same name; 252
(2) "Certificate of analysis" means a certificate from a laboratory 253
describing the results of the laboratory's testing of a sample; 254
(3) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Agriculture, or the 255
commissioner's designated agent; 256
(4) "Cultivate" means to plant, grow, harvest, handle and store a plant 257
or crop; 258
(5) "Federal act" means the United States Agricultural Marketing Act 259
of 1946, 7 USC 1639o et seq., as amended from time to time; 260
(6) "Department" means the Department of Agriculture; 261
(7) "Hemp" has the same meaning as provided in the federal act; 262
(8) "Hemp products" means all manufacturer hemp products and 263
producer hemp products; 264
(9) "Independent testing laboratory" means a facility: 265
(A) For which no person who has any direct or indirect financial or 266
managerial interest in the laboratory and also has any direct or indirect 267
interest in a facility that: 268 Substitute Bill No. 970
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(i) Produces, distributes, manufactures or sells hemp or hemp 269
products, or marijuana in any state or territory of the United States; or 270
(ii) Cultivates, processes, distributes, dispenses or sells marijuana; 271
and 272
(B) That is [accredited as] a laboratory; [in compliance with section 273
21a-408-59 of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies;] 274
(10) "Laboratory" means a laboratory that meets the requirements of 275
7 CFR 990.3 and that is accredited as a testing laboratory to International 276
Organization for Standardization (ISO) 17025 by a third-party 277
accrediting body such as the American Association for Laboratory 278
Accreditation or the Assured Calibration and Laboratory Accreditation 279
Select Services; 280
(11) "Law enforcement agency" means the Connecticut State Police, 281
the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, the Department of 282
Agriculture, the Department of Consumer Protection Drug Control 283
Division or any other federal, state or local law enforcement agency or 284
drug suppression unit; 285
(12) "Licensee" means an individual or entity that possesses a license 286
to produce or manufacture hemp or hemp products in this state; 287
(13) "Manufacture" means the conversion of the hemp plant into a by-288
product or an extract by means of [adding heat, solvents or any method 289
of extraction that modifies the original composition of the plant] (A) 290
decarboxylation of naturally occurring acidic forms of cannabinoids 291
using heat, (B) solvent-based extraction methods, including ethanol and 292
carbon dioxide supercritical extraction, (C) solventless extraction 293
methods, including use of ice water, rosin pressing, dry sifting and 294
steam distillation, or (D) lipid infusion extraction using carrier oils to 295
extract cannabinoids through heat and infusion (i) for the purpose of 296
creating a manufacturer hemp product for [commercial or] research 297
purposes, or (ii) for purposes of selling naturally manufactured hemp 298
cannabinoids to any dispensary facility in this state licensed pursuant to 299 Substitute Bill No. 970
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chapter 420f, or to any producer, cultivator, micro-cultivator or product 300
manufacturer, as such terms are defined in section 21a-420; 301
(14) "Manufacturer" means a person in the state licensed by the 302
Commissioner of Consumer Protection to manufacture, handle, store 303
and market manufacturer hemp products pursuant to the provisions of 304
section 22-61m, as amended by this act, and any regulation adopted 305
pursuant to section 22-61m, as amended by this act; 306
(15) "Marijuana" has the same meaning as provided in section 21a-307
240, as amended by this act; 308
(16) "Market" or "marketing" means promoting, distributing or 309
selling a hemp product within the state, in another state or outside of 310
the United States and includes efforts to advertise and gather 311
information about the needs or preferences of potential consumers or 312
suppliers; 313
(17) "Naturally manufactured hemp cannabinoid" has the same 314
meaning as provided in section 21a-240, as amended by this act; 315
[(17)] (18) "On-site manager" means the individual designated by the 316
producer license applicant or producer responsible for on-site 317
management and operations of a licensed producer; 318
[(18)] (19) "Pesticide" has the same meaning as "pesticide chemical" as 319
provided in section 21a-92; 320
[(19)] (20) "Lot" means a contiguous area in a field, greenhouse or 321
indoor growing structure containing the same variety or strain of hemp 322
throughout the area; 323
[(20)] (21) "Post-harvest sample" means a representative sample of the 324
form of hemp taken from the harvested hemp from a particular lot's 325
harvest that is collected in accordance with the procedures established 326
by the commissioner; 327
[(21)] (22) "Pre-harvest sample" means a composite, representative 328 Substitute Bill No. 970
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portion from plants in a hemp lot, that is collected in accordance with 329
the procedures established by the commissioner; 330
[(22)] (23) "Produce" means to cultivate hemp or create any producer 331
hemp product; 332
[(23)] (24) "State plan" means a state plan, as described in the federal 333
act and as authorized pursuant to this section; 334
[(24)] (25) "THC" means delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol; 335
[(25)] (26) "Controlled Substances Act" or "CSA" means the 336
Controlled Substances Act as codified in 21 USC 801 et seq.; 337
[(26)] (27) "Criminal history report" means the fingerprint-based state 338
and national criminal history record information obtained in accordance 339
with section 29-17a; 340
[(27)] (28) "Drug Enforcement Administration" or "DEA" means the 341
United States Drug Enforcement Administration; 342
[(28)] (29) "Farm service agency" or "FSA" means an agency of the 343
United States Department of Agriculture; 344
[(29)] (30) "Key participant" means a sole proprietor, a partner in 345
partnership or a person with executive managerial control in an entity, 346
including persons such as a chief executive officer, chief operating 347
officer and chief financial officer; 348
[(30)] (31) "Manufacturer hemp product" (A) means a commodity 349
manufactured from the hemp plant [, for commercial or research 350
purposes,] that is intended for retail sale to consumers for human 351
ingestion, inhalation, absorption or other internal consumption, [that] is 352
made with naturally manufactured hemp cannabinoids, has a full safety 353
test from an independent testing laboratory and contains a THC 354
concentration of not more than 0.3 per cent on a dry weight basis, [or 355
per volume or weight of such manufacturer hemp product,] and (B) 356
does not include an infused beverage, as defined in section 21a-425; 357 Substitute Bill No. 970
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[(31)] (32) "Producer" means an individual or entity licensed by the 358
commissioner to produce and market producer hemp products 359
pursuant to the federal act, the state plan, the provisions of this section 360
and the regulations adopted pursuant to this section; 361
[(32)] (33) "Producer hemp product" means any of the following 362
produced in this state: Raw hemp product, fiber-based hemp product or 363
animal hemp food product, and each of which contains a THC 364
concentration of not more than 0.3 per cent on a dry weight basis or per 365
volume or weight of such producer hemp product; 366
[(33)] (34) "USDA" means the United States Department of 367
Agriculture; 368
[(34)] (35) "Entity" means a corporation, joint stock company, 369
association, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, limited 370
liability company, irrevocable trust, estate, charitable organization or 371
other similar organization, including any such organization 372
participating in the hemp production as a partner in a general 373
partnership, a participant in a joint venture or a participant in a similar 374
organization; [and] 375
[(35)] (36) "Homogenize" means to blend hemp into a mixture that 376
has a uniform quality and content throughout such mixture; and 377
(37) "Low-THC hemp product" means a manufacturer hemp product 378
that has total THC, as defined in section 21a-240, as amended by this act, 379
of not more than one-half of one milligram on a per-container basis. 380
Sec. 3. Subsections (i) to (aa), inclusive, of section 22-61m of the 381
general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 382
thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 383
(i) (1) Each manufacturer shall follow the protocol in this subsection 384
for disposing of cannabis in the event that any [hemp or] manufacturer 385
hemp product is deemed to exceed the prescribed THC concentration, 386
as determined by the Commissioner of Consumer Protection, or a 387 Substitute Bill No. 970
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manufacturer licensee in possession of hemp or hemp products who 388
desires to dispose of obsolete, misbranded, excess or otherwise 389
undesired product. Each manufacturer licensee shall be responsible for 390
all costs of disposal of hemp samples and any hemp produced by such 391
licensee that violates the provisions of this section or any regulation 392
adopted pursuant to this section. Any cannabis or manufacturer hemp 393
product that exceeds the prescribed THC concentration allowable [in 394
hemp or hemp products] shall be immediately embargoed by such 395
manufacturer and clearly labeled as adulterated by such licensee and 396
such licensee shall immediately notify both the Department of 397
Consumer Protection and the Department of Agriculture, in writing, of 398
such adulterated product. Such adulterated product shall be destroyed 399
and disposed of by the following method, as determined by the 400
Commissioner of Consumer Protection: 401
(A) Surrender, without compensation, of such [hemp or] 402
manufacturer hemp product to the Commissioner of Consumer 403
Protection who shall be responsible for the destruction and disposal of 404
such adulterated product; or 405
(B) By disposal in a manner prescribed by the Commissioner of 406
Consumer Protection. 407
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this 408
subsection, upon written request of a manufacturer, the Commissioner 409
of Consumer Protection may permit such manufacturer to combine 410
different batches of raw hemp plant material to achieve a THC 411
concentration of 0.3 per cent on a dry weight basis, in lieu of embargo 412
or destruction. 413
(3) High-THC hemp products may be sold outside of the state by a 414
licensee if such products contain a THC concentration of less than 0.3 415
per cent on a dry-weight basis in compliance with the federal 416
Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018. High-THC hemp products and 417
naturally manufactured hemp cannabinoids may be sold at wholesale 418
by hemp manufacturers located in this state directly to dispensaries, 419 Substitute Bill No. 970
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producers, cultivators, micro-cultivators and product manufacturers 420
that are licensed in this state. 421
(j) The manufacturer or manufacturer's authorized designee 422
disposing of the hemp or hemp products shall maintain and make 423
available to the Commissioner of Consumer Protection a record of each 424
such disposal or destruction of product indicating: 425
(1) The date, time and location of disposal or destruction; 426
(2) The manner of disposal or destruction; 427
(3) The batch or lot information and quantity of hemp or hemp 428
product disposed of or destroyed; and 429
(4) The signatures of the persons disposing of the hemp or hemp 430
products, the authorized representative of the Commissioner of 431
Consumer Protection and any other persons present during the 432
disposal. 433
(k) Any hemp intended to be manufactured by a manufacturer into a 434
manufacturer hemp product shall [be tested by an independent testing 435
laboratory located in this state. A manufacturer licensee shall make 436
available samples, in an amount and type determined by the 437
Commissioner of Consumer Protection, of hemp for an independent 438
testing laboratory employee to select random samples. The independent 439
testing laboratory shall test each sample in accordance with the 440
laboratory testing standards established in policies, procedures and 441
regulations adopted by the commissioner pursuant to section 21a-421j] 442
have passed (1) a preharvest compliance test performed by the 443
Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, (2) an equivalent 444
preharvest compliance test performed by a licensed hemp grower in 445
another state, or (3) a full panel test performed by an independent 446
testing laboratory. 447
(l) Once a [batch of hemp, intended to be sold as a] manufacturer 448
hemp product [,] has been homogenized for sample testing and eventual 449 Substitute Bill No. 970
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packaging and sale, until such time as the Connecticut Agricultural 450
Experiment Station, licensed hemp grower or independent testing 451
laboratory provides the results from its tests and analysis, the 452
manufacturer shall segregate and withhold from [use] sale the entire 453
batch [of hemp that is intended for use as a manufacturer hemp product] 454
of such manufacturer hemp product, except the samples that have been 455
removed by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, licensed 456
hemp grower or independent testing laboratory for testing. During this 457
period of segregation, the manufacturer licensee shall maintain the 458
[hemp] batch in a secure, cool and dry location, as prescribed by the 459
Commissioner of Consumer Protection, so as to prevent the 460
manufacturer hemp product from becoming adulterated. Such 461
manufacturer shall not [manufacture or] sell a manufacturer hemp 462
product prior to the time that the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment 463
Station, licensed hemp grower or independent testing laboratory 464
completes testing and analysis and provides such results, in writing, to 465
the manufacturer licensee who initiated such testing. 466
(m) [An] The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, licensed 467
hemp grower or independent testing laboratory shall immediately 468
return or dispose of any hemp or manufacturer hemp product upon the 469
completion of any testing, use or research. If [an] the Connecticut 470
Agricultural Experiment Station or independent testing laboratory 471
disposes of hemp or manufacturer hemp products, the station or 472
laboratory shall dispose of such hemp in the following manner, as 473
determined by the Commissioner of Consumer Protection: 474
(1) By surrender, without compensation, of such hemp or 475
manufacturer hemp product to the Commissioner of Consumer 476
Protection who shall be responsible for the destruction and disposal of 477
such hemp or hemp product; or 478
(2) By disposal in a manner prescribed by the Commissioner of 479
Consumer Protection. 480
(n) If a sample does not pass the microbiological, mycotoxin, heavy 481 Substitute Bill No. 970
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metal or pesticide chemical residue test, based on the laboratory testing 482
standards established in policies, procedures and regulations adopted 483
by the Commissioner of Consumer Protection pursuant to section 21a-484
421j, the manufacturer licensee who sent such batch for testing shall: 485
(1) Retest and reanalyze the manufacturer hemp product from which 486
the sample was taken by having an employee from the same laboratory 487
randomly select another sample from the same manufacturer hemp 488
product batch. If the sample used to retest or reanalyze such 489
manufacturer hemp product yields satisfactory results for all testing 490
required under this section, an employee from a different laboratory 491
shall randomly select a different sample from the same manufacturer 492
hemp product batch for testing. If both samples yield satisfactory results 493
for all testing required under this section, the [hemp] batch from which 494
the samples were taken shall be released for [manufacturing, processing 495
and] sale; 496
(2) If a remediation plan sufficient to ensure public health and safety 497
is submitted to and approved by the commissioner, remediate the 498
manufacturer hemp product batch from which the sample was taken 499
and have a laboratory employee randomly select a sample from such 500
remediated manufacturer hemp product batch for testing. If such 501
randomly selected sample yields satisfactory results for any testing 502
required under this section, an employee from a different laboratory 503
shall randomly select a different sample from the same manufacturer 504
hemp product batch for testing. If both samples yield satisfactory results 505
for all testing required under this section, the [hemp] batch from which 506
the samples were taken may be released for [manufacturing, processing 507
or] sale; or 508
(3) If the manufacturer does not retest or remediate, or if any 509
subsequent laboratory testing does not yield satisfactory results for any 510
testing required under this section, dispose of the entire batch from 511
which the sample was taken in accordance with procedures established 512
by the Commissioner of Consumer Protection pursuant to subdivision 513
(1) of subsection (i) of this section. 514 Substitute Bill No. 970
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(o) If a sample passes the microbiological, mycotoxin, heavy metal 515
and pesticide chemical residue test, the Connecticut Agricultural 516
Experiment Station, licensed hemp grower or independent testing 517
laboratory shall release the entire batch for [manufacturing, processing 518
or] sale. 519
(p) The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station or independent 520
testing laboratory shall file with the Department of Consumer 521
Protection an electronic copy of each laboratory test result for any batch 522
that does not pass the microbiological, mycotoxin, heavy metal or 523
pesticide chemical residue test, at the same time that it transmits such 524
results to the manufacturer licensee who requested such testing. [Each] 525
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station and each independent 526
testing laboratory shall maintain the test results of each tested batch for 527
a period of three years and shall make such results available to the 528
Department of Consumer Protection upon request. 529
(q) Manufacturers shall maintain records required by the federal act, 530
this section, any regulation adopted pursuant to this section and the 531
policies, procedures and regulations adopted by the Commissioner of 532
Consumer Protection pursuant to section 21a-421j. Each manufacturer 533
shall make such records available to the Department of Consumer 534
Protection immediately upon request and in electronic format, if 535
available. 536
(r) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection may adopt 537
regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to 538
implement the provisions of this section including, but not limited to, 539
establishing sampling and testing procedures to ensure compliance 540
with this section, prescribing storage and disposal procedures for 541
[hemp, marijuana and] manufacturer hemp products that fail to pass 542
Department of Consumer Protection prescribed independent testing 543
laboratory testing standards and establishing advertising and labeling 544
requirements for manufacturer hemp products. 545
(s) Any claim of health impacts, medical effects or physical or mental 546 Substitute Bill No. 970
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benefits shall be prohibited on any advertising for, labeling of or 547
marketing of manufacturer hemp products regardless of whether such 548
manufacturer hemp products were manufactured in this state or 549
another jurisdiction. Any violation of this subsection shall be deemed an 550
unfair or deceptive trade practice under subsection (a) of section 42-551
110b. 552
(t) Not later than February 1, 2020, the Commissioners of Agriculture 553
and Consumer Protection shall submit a report, in accordance with the 554
provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the 555
[general assembly] General Assembly having cognizance of matters 556
relating to the environment on the status of the pilot program, the 557
development of the state plan and any regulations for such pilot 558
program or state plan. Such report shall also include any legislative 559
recommendations, including, but not limited to, any recommendations 560
for requiring the registration of any manufacturer hemp product offered 561
for sale in this state. 562
(u) (1) Any person who sells manufacturer hemp products shall not 563
be required to be licensed, provided such person only engages in: (A) 564
The retail or wholesale sale of low-THC manufacturer hemp products 565
in which no further manufacturing of hemp occurs, provided such low-566
THC manufacturer hemp products are acquired from a person 567
authorized to manufacture the manufacturer hemp products under the 568
laws of this state or another state, territory or possession of the United 569
States or another sovereign entity; (B) the acquisition of manufacturer 570
hemp products for the sole purpose of product distribution for resale; 571
and (C) the retail sale of manufacturer hemp products that is authorized 572
under federal or state law. 573
(2) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection or Commissioner of 574
Revenue Services may, pursuant to section 4-182, summarily suspend 575
any credential the Department of Consumer Protection or Department 576
of Revenue Services, respectively, issued to any person who violates any 577
provision of this section or chapter 214c, 228d, 420f or 420h. 578 Substitute Bill No. 970
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(v) No manufacturer hemp product offered for sale in this state, or to 579
a consumer in this state, shall contain any synthetic cannabinoid, as 580
defined in section 21a-240, as amended by this act. 581
(w) No manufacturer hemp product offered for sale in this state, or 582
to a consumer in this state, shall be packaged, presented or advertised 583
in a manner that is likely to mislead a consumer by incorporating any 584
statement, brand, design, representation, picture, illustration or other 585
depiction that: (1) Bears a reasonable resemblance to trademarked or 586
characteristic packaging of (A) cannabis offered for sale (i) in this state 587
by a cannabis establishment licensed in this state, or (ii) on tribal land 588
by a tribal-credentialed cannabis entity, or (B) a commercially available 589
product other than a cannabis product, as defined in section 21a-420; or 590
(2) implies that the manufacturer hemp product [(A)] is a cannabis 591
product, as defined in section 21a-420. [, (B) contains a total THC 592
concentration greater than three-tenths per cent on a dry-weight basis, 593
or (C) is a high-THC hemp product, as defined in section 21a-240.] 594
(x) No manufacturer hemp product that is a food, beverage, oil or 595
other product intended for human ingestion shall be distributed or sold 596
in this state unless such product is contained within a package, or a label 597
is affixed to such package, that includes: 598
(1) A scannable barcode, Internet web site address or quick response 599
code that is linked to the certificate of analysis of the final form product 600
batch by an independent testing laboratory and discloses: 601
(A) The name of such product; 602
(B) The name, address and telephone number of such product's 603
manufacturer, packer and distributor, as applicable; 604
(C) The batch number, which shall match the batch number on such 605
package or label; and 606
(D) The concentration of cannabinoids present in such product, 607
including, but not limited to, total THC and any cannabinoids or active 608 Substitute Bill No. 970
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ingredients comprising at least one per cent of such product; 609
(2) The expiration or best by date for such product, if applicable; 610
(3) A clear and conspicuous statement disclosing that: 611
(A) [Children, or those] Those who are pregnant or breastfeeding [,] 612
should avoid using such product prior to consulting with a health care 613
professional concerning such product's safety; 614
(B) Products containing cannabinoids should be kept out of reach of 615
children; and 616
(C) The federal Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated 617
such product for safety or efficacy; and 618
(4) If such product is intended to be inhaled, a clear and conspicuous 619
warning statement disclosing that smoking or vaporizing is hazardous 620
to human health. 621
(y) No manufacturer hemp product that is a topical, soap or cosmetic, 622
as defined in section 21a-92, shall be distributed or sold in this state 623
unless such product is contained within a package, or a label is affixed 624
to such package, that includes: 625
(1) A scannable barcode, Internet web site address or quick response 626
code that is linked to the certificate of analysis of the final form extract 627
or final form product batch by an independent testing laboratory and 628
discloses: 629
(A) The name of such product; 630
(B) The name, address and telephone number of such product's 631
manufacturer, packer and distributor, as applicable; 632
(C) The batch number, which shall match the batch number on such 633
package or label; and 634
(D) The concentration of cannabinoids present in such batch, 635 Substitute Bill No. 970
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including, but not limited to, total THC and any marketed cannabinoids; 636
(2) The expiration or best by date for such product, if applicable; and 637
(3) A clear and conspicuous statement disclosing the following: 638
"THE FDA HAS NOT EVALUATED THIS PRODUCT FOR SAFETY 639
OR EFFICACY.". 640
(z) Not later than October 31, 2023, and annually thereafter, the 641
Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall, in 642
consultation with the Department of Consumer Protection, publish a 643
training bulletin to inform local law enforcement agencies and officers 644
regarding the investigation and enforcement standards concerning 645
cannabis and high-THC hemp products. 646
(aa) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes: (1) [CBD] 647
THC that is found in manufacturer hemp products shall not be 648
considered a controlled substance, as defined in section 21a-240, as 649
amended by this act, or legend drug, as defined in section 20-571; and 650
(2) [CBD] THC derived from hemp and contained in naturally 651
manufactured hemp cannabinoids or manufacturer hemp products 652
shall not be considered a controlled substance or adulterant. 653
Sec. 4. Subsections (b) and (c) of section 22-61n of the general statutes 654
are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 655
1, 2025): 656
(b) Any dispensary, producer, cultivator, micro-cultivator and 657
product manufacturer may [manufacture,] market [, cultivate] or store 658
hemp and high-THC hemp products, and naturally manufactured 659
hemp cannabinoids, as defined in section 21a-240, as amended by this 660
act, regardless of total THC content, from licensees in accordance with 661
the provisions of this chapter and any regulations adopted pursuant to 662
said chapter. A producer, cultivator, micro-cultivator and product 663
manufacturer that obtains hemp and hemp products shall only obtain 664
such hemp and hemp products from a person authorized under the laws 665 Substitute Bill No. 970
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of this state [or another state, territory or possession of the United States 666
or another sovereign entity] to possess and sell such hemp and hemp 667
products. 668
(c) Hemp, [or] manufacturer hemp products and naturally 669
manufactured hemp cannabinoids, as defined in section 21a-240, as 670
amended by this act, purchased by a dispensary, producer, cultivator, 671
micro-cultivator, product manufacturer or food and beverage 672
manufacturer from a third party shall be tracked as a separate batch 673
throughout the manufacturing process in order to document the 674
disposition of such hemp, [or] manufacturer hemp products or 675
cannabinoids. Once hemp or hemp products are received by a producer, 676
cultivator, micro-cultivator, product manufacturer or food and 677
beverage manufacturer, such hemp or hemp products shall be deemed 678
cannabis and shall comply with the requirements for cannabis contained 679
in the applicable provisions of the general statutes and any regulations 680
adopted pursuant to such provisions. A dispensary, producer, 681
cultivator, micro-cultivator, product manufacturer and food and 682
beverage manufacturer shall retain a copy of the certificate of analysis 683
for purchased hemp, [or] manufacturer hemp products and naturally 684
manufactured hemp cannabinoids, as defined in section 21a-240, as 685
amended by this act, and invoice and transport documents that 686
evidence the quantity purchased and date received. 687
Sec. 5. Subdivision (120) of section 12-412 of the general statutes is 688
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 689
2025): 690
(120) (A) Sales of the following nonprescription drugs or medicines 691
available for purchase for use in or on the body: Vitamin or mineral 692
concentrates; dietary supplements; natural or herbal drugs or 693
medicines; products intended to be taken for coughs, cold, asthma or 694
allergies, or antihistamines; laxatives; antidiarrheal medicines; 695
analgesics; antibiotic, antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal medicines; 696
antiseptics; astringents; anesthetics; steroidal medicines; anthelmintics; 697
emetics and antiemetics; antacids; any medication prepared to be used 698 Substitute Bill No. 970
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in the eyes, ears or nose; cannabis sold for palliative use under the 699
provisions of chapter 420f; and opioid antagonists, as defined in section 700
17a-673a. 701
(B) Nonprescription drugs or medicines do not include cosmetics, 702
dentifrices, mouthwash, shaving and hair care products, soaps, 703
deodorants or products containing cannabis or cannabinoids. As used 704
in this subparagraph, "cannabis" has the same meaning as provided in 705
section 21a-420 and "cannabinoids" means naturally manufactured 706
hemp cannabinoids or synthetic cannabinoids, as such terms are defined 707
in section 21a-240, as amended by this act. 708
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 July 1, 2025 21a-240(29) to (62)
Sec. 2 July 1, 2025 22-61l(a)
Sec. 3 July 1, 2025 22-61m(i) to (aa)
Sec. 4 July 1, 2025 22-61n(b) and (c)
Sec. 5 July 1, 2025 12-412(120)
Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
In Section 3(t), "the provisions of" was added before "section 11-4a" for
consistency with standard drafting conventions.
GL Joint Favorable Subst. -LCO